Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason14h
Unless the goaltending steals games this team is bottom 5 bad.
The D is atrocious, and the odds that they are as healthy as last (past few actually) seasons is low. Most of their best players are older and are due for some regression
Unless one or two of the kids play at 13/14 Gaudreau and Monny levels and surprise us I would be very surprised if this isnt a bottom 5 team. If they have any injury issues they easily could be bottom 3.
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They SHOULD be bottom 5 bad - but the league is unpredictable.
The best teams in the league have a 55% xGF, the worst teams generally around 45% xGF.
Most games are a toss up and I think people underestimate that.
When I look at the teams who will be competing with the Flames for a top 5 pick there are 4 teams that were worse than the Flames last year that are probably still worse:
Columbus: It's tragic but probably the front runner for 1st overall pick
Anaheim: Still worse than the Flames IMO
Chicago: Outside of Bedard probably still worse but it will be close if he becomes a 100 point star this year.
San Jose: Improved but backend is even worse than Calgary, depends how good Smith/Celebrini/Askarov are from day 1.
Personally I'd rank the Flames right about here in pre-season power rankings but I think it's possible they could pass some of the teams ahead of them.
These teams finished behind the Flames last year but should be better this year but it's close:
Montreal: Lots of potential, should be much improved but very young and play in a tough division.
Ottawa: Lost Tarasenko and Chycrun...added Ullmark...if he doesn't improve their goaltending they could be worse this season.
Utah: Added Sergachev and should be better, but that team could easily finish behind Calgary still.
Seattle: Don't think they improved a whole lot, at the cap, and could easily also be a bottom 5 team.
And I think there are a couple of teams that finished ahead of Calgary that could easily be drafting top 10 this season.
Minnesota: Kaprizov, Faber, Spurgeon, Boldy and a bunch of filler IMO.
Washington: Not really sure what to think about this team.
Detroit: Think they are going to have a rough season.
That right there are the Flames and 11 other teams. I don't think they are a playoff team but much like most of last season they could pick anywhere from 1st OV to 12th OV and it wouldn't surprise me.